Recently, I traveled to Israel with a group of 40 student activists ranging in political affiliation, background knowledge, color, gender, and creed. Along the way we spoke to journalists, professors, past IDF officers, and Israeli citizens, hearing each of their perspectives on the state of their homeland, the state of the Middle East, and their outlook on the future.

Students for Peace and Justice in Palestine (SPJP) was featured on the Humans of Virginia Tech Facebook page. The main theme of the tabling demonstration covered in the post was to blame Israel for all Palestinian hardship without any room for competing dialogue. This post became a battleground for toxicity and name-calling and ultimately left no room for any type of discussion.

Distinguished members of the Modern Language Association (MLA) and an outside scholar, with help from Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) and Hillel International, will host “Perspectives Against Academic Boycotts,” a panel discussion regarding academic freedom in Israel, its territories, and Gaza during MLA’s annual convention in Chicago.

Hillel International and Israel on Campus Coalition protest the decision by the Modern Language Association to deny the organizations the right to present a balanced and open discussion featuring MLA members regarding academic freedom in Israel, its territories, and Gaza at MLA’s annual convention in Chicago.